Grigoriadis, K; (2019) Computational blends: the epistemology of designing with functionally graded materials. The Journal of Architecture , 24 (2) pp. 160-192. 10.1080/13602365.2019.1578074.

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Abstract

Considering advances in materials science, this research proposes a novel method of designing with multi-, or functionally graded materials (FGM). FGM consist of sub-materials continuously fused in one volume, without the use of mechanical connections. The proposed technique is to emulate the fusion of materials based on their physical properties using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The main objective, in effect, is to formulate an epistemological framework corresponding to the use of CFD in multi-material design. Targeting this method for a unitised curtain wall panel segment, the research identifies appropriate materials that can be mixed to generate the part, describes the form of the digital container for blending, analyses FGM manufacturing techniques and structural loading on the panel to assign the affecting forces, and sets out criteria for terminating the simulation. This is followed by bespoke workflows to visualise the resulting FGM and to 3D-print it in a multi-material. The findings identify the shortfalls of material simulation use in design, the limitations of visualising a multi-material, and the problems with its direct fabrication. The resulting original contribution is a mutable process model created in commercial 3D software that can be used in a standard laptop computer to design with FGM.

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